CAN YOU KEEP ME CLOSE,
He had never been one for court life. Even in his youth when he had been all easy smiles and quick wit, there was something more street-smart about him. At his most done up and put together, Bucky might have been able to pass for someone with some half-decent education and upbringing, but he couldn’t escape the fact that he simply wasn’t meant for the politics and mannerisms of court. He was silent these days while Liam dealt with the inner workings of Terrastella and the Dawn Court — little more than a witness. At times he couldn’t help but wonder if the other stallion wished that he could do more — _be_ more.
Unfortunately this was all Bucky would ever amount to. He played the shadows best, and offering his support was all he could do.
Today felt no different than the last, or the day before that — the same kind of acute awareness that he was still very much a stranger and an outsider in these lands. He had come for Liam, and opening himself up to the other inhabitants here proved difficult. So for much of the time, Bucky had remained away from the hustle and bustle that the court could offer. There were some spaces that were private to Liam, and Bucky found himself remaining to those more often than not.
The cool, salted smell of the ocean clung to the walls from the nearby bluffs, and Bucky inhaled deeply as he leaned against the cold stone. The window before him was beautifully arched, a clear indication of the craftsmanship that went into the structure of this place. These were usually the rooms that Liam occupied throughout the day, but duties took the sovereign away from the heart of the court. In his place Bucky had remained, patiently waiting as he mulled over his own thoughts.
Liam wasn’t expected back for some time still, so when the doors were suddenly pushed open Bucky’s gaze whipped around sharply. As the mare stepped inside, she only managed a few steps before very nearly collapsing. His brow furrowed as he listened to her recount how she had jumped out a window — something that would explain the blood he could make out. Escaping? What the hell was she escaping from? Quickly she seemed to catch on that he wasn’t Liam, and began to back out.
Bucky pushed himself away from his spot against the wall, taking a few steps towards her before he paused as her body finally gave in and her legs crumpled beneath her. He was no medic, and the way he was taught to handle wounds was to work through the pain unless it was life threatening. Bucky wasn’t sure she would even want him close enough to offer any assistance as he remained rooted in place a few feet away.
“He’s away from the citadel today,” he explained lowly, “M’afraid he won’t be back until much later.”
Certainly far too late to deal with — whatever this was. She looked like an absolute mess, and rightfully so seeing as she had just explained her less-than-marvellous escape. Whoever — whatever — was after her wouldn’t lay a hand on her, he decided, until Liam was here to properly sort this out. Inhaling deeply again, Bucky made a move to walk around her and towards the doors. “You said you were escaping? The — manor? M’not — as well versed in all of this as Liam is,” Bucky winced at himself, trying to find the right words to say, “But until his return, I can offer you sanctuary here. An’ maybe get those wounds treated.”
It was the least he could do for her, he assumed. She hadn’t finished what she was going to say, but he could also assume that she was here to ask Liam for his help. Bucky could offer his own assistance in place of the sovereign, for now. Shuffling a bit, he nudged the doors closed again before he took a more cautious step towards the mare. “If you’re alright with my help, that is?” Unlike Liam, Bucky wasn’t the type to insist upon offering a hand to someone in need. If they turned him away, he would leave them to it. That righteous do-good spirit that the other stallion had was notably absent in Bucky these days.
@Asta
Unfortunately this was all Bucky would ever amount to. He played the shadows best, and offering his support was all he could do.
Today felt no different than the last, or the day before that — the same kind of acute awareness that he was still very much a stranger and an outsider in these lands. He had come for Liam, and opening himself up to the other inhabitants here proved difficult. So for much of the time, Bucky had remained away from the hustle and bustle that the court could offer. There were some spaces that were private to Liam, and Bucky found himself remaining to those more often than not.
The cool, salted smell of the ocean clung to the walls from the nearby bluffs, and Bucky inhaled deeply as he leaned against the cold stone. The window before him was beautifully arched, a clear indication of the craftsmanship that went into the structure of this place. These were usually the rooms that Liam occupied throughout the day, but duties took the sovereign away from the heart of the court. In his place Bucky had remained, patiently waiting as he mulled over his own thoughts.
Liam wasn’t expected back for some time still, so when the doors were suddenly pushed open Bucky’s gaze whipped around sharply. As the mare stepped inside, she only managed a few steps before very nearly collapsing. His brow furrowed as he listened to her recount how she had jumped out a window — something that would explain the blood he could make out. Escaping? What the hell was she escaping from? Quickly she seemed to catch on that he wasn’t Liam, and began to back out.
Bucky pushed himself away from his spot against the wall, taking a few steps towards her before he paused as her body finally gave in and her legs crumpled beneath her. He was no medic, and the way he was taught to handle wounds was to work through the pain unless it was life threatening. Bucky wasn’t sure she would even want him close enough to offer any assistance as he remained rooted in place a few feet away.
“He’s away from the citadel today,” he explained lowly, “M’afraid he won’t be back until much later.”
Certainly far too late to deal with — whatever this was. She looked like an absolute mess, and rightfully so seeing as she had just explained her less-than-marvellous escape. Whoever — whatever — was after her wouldn’t lay a hand on her, he decided, until Liam was here to properly sort this out. Inhaling deeply again, Bucky made a move to walk around her and towards the doors. “You said you were escaping? The — manor? M’not — as well versed in all of this as Liam is,” Bucky winced at himself, trying to find the right words to say, “But until his return, I can offer you sanctuary here. An’ maybe get those wounds treated.”
It was the least he could do for her, he assumed. She hadn’t finished what she was going to say, but he could also assume that she was here to ask Liam for his help. Bucky could offer his own assistance in place of the sovereign, for now. Shuffling a bit, he nudged the doors closed again before he took a more cautious step towards the mare. “If you’re alright with my help, that is?” Unlike Liam, Bucky wasn’t the type to insist upon offering a hand to someone in need. If they turned him away, he would leave them to it. That righteous do-good spirit that the other stallion had was notably absent in Bucky these days.
@Asta
mono | art
